a certain large

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a certain large" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used when referring to a specific but unspecified large quantity or size, but it requires additional context or modification to be grammatically correct. Example: "There was a certain large number of attendees at the event, which exceeded our expectations."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

I do business with a certain large brokerage firm.

The New York Times

But to justify that optimism we'll first need to consider the economic burden borne by a certain large population of female workers: mothers.

The New Yorker

With his approval ratings drooping badly, the mayor of a certain large East Coast city might want to reflect on those cautionary words.

The New York Times

"In New York, you'd see it, you'd feel it," said Tracy Hamilton Thompson, referring to a certain large, self-important city just east of East Rutherford.

The New York Times

But the closest I have recently seen to such a world-running body would have to be a certain large investment bank, whose alums are routinely Treasury secretaries, high advisers to presidents, and occasionally a governor or United States senator.

The New York Times

You can be sure the cast rises to the challenge, while Adelaide battles her way back to wintry Times Square by snowplow, bicycle, pretzel cart and delivery truck of a certain large metropolitan daily.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

In an earlier persona, Johnson once wrote of a certain large-wigged Law Lord that he plainly thought the press too big for its boots and unfit to black his.

The Economist

We expect that this work could contribute to enhancing OPV performance to a certain large-area and offer insights into the design.

Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells

In particular, we prove that a homomorphism fromL1(R+) into P+need not be a Sinclair map, but that it can be represented by means of a semigroup which belongs to a certain larger Banach algebra of random Taylor series.

Journal of Functional Analysis

They're running a process for certain large clients, and there's a role for that.

The New York Times

To investigate whether the demand for increased protein size represents a demand for certain large biochemical domains, i.e. if certain biochemical functions are overrepresented among proteins of larger size, protein size data (as above) was compared to the GO biochemical activity classification data obtained from SGD [ 38].

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For clarity and grammatical correctness, always follow "a certain" with a noun that can be quantified or measured. For example, "a certain large number", "a certain large amount", or "a certain large area".

Common error

Avoid using "a certain large" without specifying what is being measured or quantified. Saying "a certain large" without a following noun can sound vague and grammatically incorrect. Always clarify the noun to ensure clarity and accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a certain large" functions as a modifier intended to describe something of considerable size, without specifying exact dimensions. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase, on its own, isn't grammatically correct in standard written English and needs a quantifiable noun to complete the expression.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

32%

News & Media

32%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

8%

Reference

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "a certain large" aims to describe something of significant size without being precise, it is often considered grammatically questionable without a quantifiable noun to complete the expression. Ludwig AI indicates that "a certain large" is not considered correct in standard written English. Its usage spans across news, science, and general contexts, with alternatives like ""a particular large"" or ""an unspecified large"" offering more grammatically sound options. To maintain clarity and precision, it is recommended to specify what is being measured or quantified when using this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a particular large

Replaces "certain" with "particular", emphasizing specificity but still lacking precision.

a specific large

Substitutes "certain" with "specific", suggesting a more definite but unspecified large entity.

an unspecified large

Replaces "certain" with "unspecified", directly indicating that the large quantity is not explicitly defined.

a relatively large

Adds "relatively" to indicate the size is large in comparison to something else, providing context.

a considerably large

Emphasizes the largeness with "considerably", suggesting a significant size.

a substantially large

Uses "substantially" to highlight the significant size or quantity.

a notably large

Indicates the size is worth noting or remarkable.

a remarkably large

Similar to "notably large" but emphasizes the surprising or impressive nature of the size.

a decidedly large

Uses "decidedly" to affirm the largeness without specifying it.

a generally large

Suggests the size is large in most cases or on average.

FAQs

How can I use "a certain large" correctly in a sentence?

To use "a certain large" correctly, follow it with a quantifiable noun, such as "a certain large number", "a certain large amount", or "a certain large area". This provides context and ensures grammatical accuracy.

What are some alternatives to using the phrase "a certain large"?

Alternatives include "a particular large", "a specific large", or "an unspecified large", depending on the context and the level of specificity you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say just "a certain large" without a following noun?

No, it is generally not grammatically correct to say just "a certain large" without a following noun. It lacks context and sounds incomplete. Always specify what you are referring to with a quantifiable noun.

What is the difference between "a certain large number" and "a specific large number"?

"A certain large number" implies that the number is known but not explicitly stated, while "a specific large number" suggests that the number is definite and potentially known or able to be determined, though still not explicitly stated.